PM Tusk tenders resignation

President Bronislaw Komorowski (L) shakes hands with Prime Minister Donald Tusk during at a meeting of the National Security Bureau. Tusk's prospective successor, Speaker Ewa Kopacz, stands furthest to the right. Photo: PAP/Pawel Supernak

Tusk handed over the necessary documents at a meeting of the National Security Bureau, and Komorowski has indicated that he will formally accept the resignation on Thursday.

The president then has two weeks to approve a new prime minister, with current Speaker of Parliament Ewa Kopacz the confirmed candidate of both Tusk's Civic Platform party and coalition partner the Polish Peasants' Party.

Prospective successor Kopacz, a former health minister (2007-2011) is expected to carry out a major reshuffle, with the government now entering the end of its second term in office, and a general election due in 2015.

Prior to being elected President of the European Council on 30 August, Tusk had indicated that a reshuffle was imminent.

The government was shaken over the summer by a wire-tapping scandal that compromised several ministers, including Minister of the Interior Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz, who has been accused of making improper deals with the the head of the National Bank of Poland, Marek Belka.

Tusk held his last cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning and he will officially take up his EU Councilil presidency on 1 December. (nh)

Source: IAR/PAP